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2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IXVENTOR F/Pfl/V/f J 31727 A TTURNE 13s" F. J. BAST AUTOMATIC GAS VALVE Fllecl Aug 10 1929 June 27, 1933.

W1 TNESS mww F. J. BAST' AUTOMATIC. GAS VALVE R Filed Aug. 10. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 27, 1933.

mm H km 1 3* mm v 9% R. 2 H 8 m i? 11V VEIYTOR HP/nv/r JB 7 A TTOKNE Y5 7 -WITNE S'S Reiuued June 27, 1933 unrrso srares- PATENT orrlcr.

FRANK J. EAST, OF QUEEN'S VILLAGE, nnw YORK, LSSIGHOB TO CHARLES 3 TAGLIAIBUE IFG. 60., OF BROOKLYN, m YORK, A CORPORATION 01' NEW YORK anronrrc GAS vaLvr:

Original 110. LIIIM, dated April 21, 1931, Serial I0. 3851!, fled August 10, 1989. Application for reissue filed April 80, 1933. Serial 10. 887,180.

My invention relates to automatic control valves, and more particularly to the type of valves employed to control the feedof gas to an automatic gas-heated refrigerator.

In refrigerators of this type, a soluble gas is caused to dissolve in water, the solution being then heated in a boiler section of the apparatus and the s driven off under pressure and liquefied y cooling with runuin water. The liquefied gas is then permit to vaporize and expand in a set of cooling coils located in the refrigerating compartment of the refrigerator, after which it 1s re absorbed by the water and the cycle thus repeated continuously. -The degree of cooling is regulated and a predetermined tempera-- ture maintained in the refrigerating compartment by controlling the rate at which the soluble gas is driven off from its water solu tion, i. e. by regulating the size of the gas flame. Refrigerators of this type are generally so operated that the heater portion or boiler thereof is constantly heated by a pilot flame, such flame being increased by a thermostatic control device when the temperature in the refrigerator rises above a predetermined maximum. In view of the fact that the soluble cooling gas is driven off at high ressure in such heater or boiler section 0 the refrigerator, the danger exists that the pressure therein will rise above a safe maximum and that the continued feeding of the burner with gas might result in an explosion.

It is an object ofthe present invention to provide a combined automatic valve capable of regulating the size of the flame in order to maintain a predetermined temperature in the refrigerator, and also of cutting ofi completely the supply of gas to the burner mechanism when the temperature or pressure in the water boiler rises above a safe maximum.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a valve of the type indicated which is extremely compact and simple in construction and accurate and reliable in operation. This compactness in structure is attained by the use of an open ended casing or casing section at whose open ends are located two temperature or pressure responsive members, which may be in the form of expansible bel-- lows which are separately responsive to changes in the temperature at two separate predetermined places, the mechanism, such as valves, controlled 1] such responsive memfirs being positione between such two memrs It is a further object of the invention to provide simple adjusting means for a valve of this type wherebyvthe temperature automatically maintained in the refrigeratin compartment may be predetermined at wil In the accompanying drawings is shown by way of example a preferred embodiment of the invention; in said drawin Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my combine valve structure; Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof; Fig.

3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but with the cover plate removed to show the interior structure; Fig. 4 is a plan view of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a section taken along the line 55 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a rear view of the device; Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but with the bottom plate removed; and Fig. 8 is a section along the line 8-8 of Fig. 7

Fig. 1 shows a valve casing composed of an open ended body section 10, a top cover plate 11 and a bottom plate 12, the latter being provided with lugs 13 by means of which the valve may be attached to a wall or other supporting surface. The body section 10 is referably of annular cross-section and in the illustrated embodiment of. the invention is provided with a late or partition 14 which may be integral t erewith. A snapping diaphragm 15, which is clamped in gas-tight manner to the body 10 by the plate 12, forms with the partition 14 a gas-tight chamber 16; while a pliable or flexible wall or partition 17,

.which'is similarl clamped to the casing 10 as shown in Fig. 8, though any other equiva- 1 lent structure arranged for introducing the gas from the conduit 19 into that art of the casing whence itbecomes availab e for flow through the valved control in advance of the outlet 27 may be employed. The om chamber 16 passes into chamber 18 through ports 21 and 22 in the partition 14,

of bore 24 and the valve stem into chamber 18. The gas is withdrawn from the latter chamberthrough a bore 27 in the artition 14 to which is connected a conduit leading to the burner which heats the boiler of the refrigerator absorption apparatus. The ad- 7 ustable screw 23 serves to fix the size of the pilot flame which determines the minimum' cooling effect produced by the refrigerator.

As stated above, the top plate 11 serves to clamp the pliable wall or diaphragm 17 against the body '10 of the casing, packing being provided at the circumference of the diaphragm in order to prevent leakage of gas. from the chamber 18 into the space outside the diaphragm 17. The diaphragm is clamped at approximately the center thereof to a block 28 which is connected to and supports a temperature responsive element in the form of a flexible walled casing or bellows 29 whose interior is in communication with a bore 30 in such block and with a pipe proof. The block 28 is engaged by an adjustable screw 34which may be provided with a pointer cooperating with a scale 35 for a purpose to be explained hereinafter.

The bottom plate 12 encloses dished plate 36 whose edge may be bent around the edge of the snapping diaphragm 15 and clamped with the latter to the valve casing 10, thus forming a closed casing or bellows acting as a thermostatic element which is connected by means of a pi 37 to a thermostatic bulb 38 adapted to be lfcated within the boiler of the absorption apparatus. A spring arm 39 is mounted upon the partition 14 as shown at 40, said arm' being curved and passing adjacent the central portion of the snapping diaphragm 15. The free end of the arm 39 carries a cap 41 which directly overlies the gas inlet channel 20.

The valve 25 is located above the central portion of the casing 29 and is urged toward its closed position by a spring arm 42. Upon and lifts the valve 25 against the resistance of arm 42.

' The operation of my combinedvalve is as follows: The inlet channel 20 is normall open and the fuel gas passes therethrougii from pipe 19 into the chamber 16. A fixed quantity of gas as predetermined'by the setting of. the adjustable screw 23. passes continuously through the ports 21 and 22 into the chamber 18 from which it is conducted by the pipe 27 to the: burner of the absorption apparatus. As the temperature in the refrigerating compartment rises, the pressure in the bulb 32 increases. The casing 29 thereupon expands and raises the valve 25 olf its seat, thereby permitting an additional quantity of gas to pass into the chamber .18 through the bore 24. The burner flame is thus increased, more of the soluble refrigerating gas is driven off from its water solution per unit of time and the cooling compartment cooled to a greater extent. This causes a drop in the temperature of such compartment whereupon casing 29 contracts and permits valve 25 to close completely or partially. During-the normal operation of the device the valve 25 remains open only to such an extent as is sufiicient to produce in the cooling compartment a predetermined temperature. This temperature is controlled by means of the screw 34 which or lowers the block 28 and thereby brings the casing '29 nearer to or moves it farther from the valve 25, thus making necessary lesser or greater expansion of casing 29 before the valve is operated.

When the pressure, and consequently also the temperature. of the vapors in the boiler. of the absorption apparatus rise above a predetermined maximum, the fluid in the thermostatic bulb 38 expands and causes the diaphragm 15 to move downwardly as seen in Fig. 5 until it reaches a position approximately near the horizontal plane whereupon it quicldy snaps beyond such plane and strikes the spring arm 39 forcing the same to seat the valve cap 41 over the channel 20; thereupon the feed of gas into the chamber 16 and hence to the It will be understood that the burner is itself provided with a thermostatically.controlled valve of any known type which closes when the flame goes out, so that when gas is again fed to the burner such gas willnot be able to reach the burner jet until after the burner has been manually heated to open such valve.

The arrangement above described is characterized by compactness due primarily to the fact that the two casings or bellows 29 and 36 are positioned directly 0 posite each other at the respective open en s of the annular casing section 10, thereby producing a sub gas burner is stopped.

is further favored by the arrangement of the valve-supporting spring arms 39 and 42 in such a manner that they cross each other, the valves and their supporting structure being located between the two temperature or pressure responsive bellows.

It will be obvious that my automatic valve mechanism may be employed in other relations than as above described to control the feed of various gases or fluids in response to changes in the temperature or pressure or both at one or more points. By replacing the thermostatic bulb with a pressure respona siv'e mechanism, or by connecting the casing 29 orv 36, or both, directly with a vessel or vessels under pressure, my improved valve can be made to control the flow of a fluid in response to the pressure conditions at selected points. I

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without depart- 1. An automatic valve mechanism suitable for use in controlling the feed of a combustible fluid to the burner of a heating apparatus to maintain predetermined temperature or pressure conditions at a selected point and to prevent rise of temperature or pressure at a selected point beyond a safe maximum, and comprising, in combination, a casing, means in said casing forming two gas-tight chambers therein and including a transverse partition having a bore connecting the chambers, a valve controlling said bore, an element provided with a connection whereby it may be attached to a temperature or pressure responsive device and operatively asso ciated with said valve to adjust the same in response to variations in the temperature or pressure at a selected point, said partition having a channel opening into one of said chambers and adapted to be connected to a conduit to be charged with a fluid fuel thereby, the second chamber being adapted to be connected to a conduit for'withdrawing the fluid charged thereinto by said valve, a normally open second valve arranged to control said channel, and a second element provided with a connection whereby it may be attached to a temperature or pressure responsive device and operative to close said second valve completely upon rise of the temperature or pressure at a selected point beyond a safe maximum.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second-mentioned valve is located within the first-mentioned chamber.

3. The combination asset forth in claim 1 including a resilient arm normally holding said second-mentioned valve in open position.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 1 including a resilient arm normally urging said first-mentioned valve tion.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first-mentioned element comprises an expansible member located in saidsecond chamber, a movable block supporting said member, and an adjustable screw engaging said block.

- 6. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second element comprises an expansible member located within said casing and having a resilient diaphragm forming a wall thereof, said diaphragm being operative upon rise of pressure in said member beyond a predetermined maximum to mnve quickly to close said second-mentioned va ve.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said partition is provided with an additional passageway connecting the chambers, and an ad ustable pilot valve controlling said passageway.

8. An automatic valve mechanism suitable for use in controlling the feed of a combustible fluid to the burner of a heating apparatus to maintain predetermined temperature or pressure conditions at a selected point and to prevent rise of temperature or pressure at a selected point beyond a safe maximum, and comprising, in combination, a casing, means in said casing forming two gas-tight chambers therein and including a transverse partition having a bore connecting the chambers, a channel in said partition opening into one of said chambers and adapted to be connected to a conduit for charging a fluid fuel into such chamber, such fuel passing through said bore into the second chamber, a second channel in said partition opening into the latter chamber and adapted to be connected to a second conduit for withdrawing the fuel to a place of use, a valve controlling said bore, an element provided with a connection whereby it may be attached to a temperature or pressure responsive device and operatively associated with said valve to adjust the same in response to variations in the temperature or pressure at a selected point, said partition being provided with a second passageway connecting said chambers, a pilot valve controlling said assageway, a normally open valve controlllng said first-mentioned channel, and a second element provided with a connection whereby it may be attached to a temperature or pressure responsive device and operative to close said last-mentioned valve u on rise of the temperature or pressure at a se ected point beyond a safe maximum.

9. An automatic valve mechanism suitable for use in controlling the feed of a combustible fluid to the burner of a heating apparatus to maintain predetermined temperature or pressure conditions at a selected point and to prevent rise of temperature or pressure at a selected point beyond a safe into closed posimaximum, and comprising, in combination, a casing, means in said casing forming two gas-tight chambers therein and including a transverse partition having a bore connecting the chambers, a channel in said partition opening into one of said chambers and adapted to be connected to a conduit for charging a fluid fuel into such chamber, such fuel passing through said bore into the second chamber, a second channel in said partition opening into the latter chamber and adapted to be connected to a second conduit for withdrawing the fuel to a place of use, a valve controlling said bore, a resilient arm normally urging said valve into closed position, an element provided with a connect-ion whereby it may be attached to a temperature or pressure responsive device and operatively associated with said valve to adjust the same in response to variations in the temperature or pressure at a selected point, said partition being provided with a second passageway connecting said chambers, a pilot valve controlling said passageway, a normally open valve controlling said first-mentionec channel, a resilient arm supporting said lastmentioned valve, and a second element provided with a connection whereby it may be attached to a temperature or pressure responsive device and operative to close such valve upon rise of the temperature or pressure at a selected point beyond a safe maximum.

' 10. An automatic valve mechanism suitable for use in controlling the feed of a combustible fluid to the burner of a heating apparatus to maintain predetermined temper ature or pressure conditions at a selected point and to prevent rise of temperature or pressure at. a selected point beyond a safe maximum, and comprising, in combination, a sealed easing comprising an annular memher having an inlet port adapted to be connected with a gas supply for admitting gas into the casing, and an outlet port adapted to be connected with a pipe for leading the gas to a place of use, a valve controlling one of said inlet and outlet ports, a ten'iperature or pressure responsive element located at one of the open ends of the annular member and operatively associated with said valve to adjust the same in response to variations in the temperature or pressure at a selected point,

a normally open second valve arranged to control the other of said inlet and outlet ports, and a second temperature or pressure responsive element located at the open end of the casing opposite. said first mentioned end and operative to actuate said second valve to close said other port completely upon rise q of the temperature or pressure at a selected point beyond a safe maximum.

11. A valve mechanism as set forth in claim 10, including leaf springs engaging said valves and normally holding the first valve closed and the second valve open, said leaf springs and valves arranged in the space between said oppositely positioned respon- I sive elments.

12. A valve mechanism as set forth in claim 10, including leaf springs engaging said "alves and normally holding the first valve closed and the second valve open, said leaf springs and valves arranged in the space between said oppositely positioned responsive elements, said leaf springs being liked to the casing at points diagonally opposite their respective ports, so that said springs cross each other within the casing.

13. An automatic valve mechanism suitable for use in controlling the feed of a combustible fluid to the burner of a heating apparatus to maintain predetermined temperature or pressure conditions at a selected point and to prevent rise of temperature or pressure at a selected point beyond a safe maximum, and comprising, In combination, a

sealed casing comprising an annular member having an inlet adapted to be connected with a gas supply for admitting gas into the casing, and an outlet adapted to be connected with a pipe for leading the gas to a place of use, a member in said casing having a bore arranged to communicate with the casing inlet to feed the gas entering through the inlet to the outlet, a valve controlling such bore and biased to the closed position, a temperature or pressure responsive element located at one of the open ends of the casing and operatively associated with said valve to adjust the same in response to variations 1 in the temperature or pressure at a selected point, a second valve arranged to control said inlet and biased to the open position, and a second temperature or pressure responsive element located at the open end of the casing opposite said first-mentioned end and operative to close said second valve completely upon rise of the temperature or pressure at a selected point beyond a safe maximum.

14. A valve mechanism as set' forth in claim 13, including leaf springs anchored at one end within the housing and at their other ends acting upon the said valves, said springs tending to hold the first valve closedand the second valve open, said leaf springs and valves arranged in the space between said responsive elements.

15. The combination set forth in claim 10, wherein one of the responsive elements is clamped against the adjacent end of the annular casing member and forms part of a seal for such end of the annular member.

FRANK J. BAST. 

